SB 1.3.32 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 32
Atah param yad abyaktam abudha gunbringhitam adrista ashruta vastutwat sa jiva yat punarbhabam
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Atah—this, param—beyond, yad—which, abyaktam—non-manifested, abudha—without formal shape, gunabringhita—effected by the qualities, adrista—unseen, ashruta—unheard, vastutwat—being like that, sa—that, jiva—living being, yat—that which, punarbhavam—takes birth repeatedly.
TRANSLATION
Beyond this gross conception of form there is another subtle conception of form which is without any formal shape and is unseen unheard non-manifested. The living being has his form beyond this subtlety otherwise how it is possible for repetition of births.
PURPORT
As the gross cosmic manifestation is imposed as the gigantic body of the Lord so also there are others who conceive of the subtle form of Him which is simply realised without being seen, heard or manifested. But in fact all these gross or subtle conceptions of the body are in relation with the living being. The living being has his spiritual form beyond this gross material or subtle psychic existence. The gross body and psychic functions cease to act as soon as the living being leaves the visible gross body and still we say that the living being has gone away although he is still unseen unheard. Even the gross body not acting when the living being is in sound sleep we can know that he is within the body by the sound of sleeping inhalation. So the living being passing away from the body does not mean that there is no existence of the living soul. It is there otherwise how he can repeat his births again and again. The conclusion is that the Lord is eternally existent in His transcendental Form which is neither gross nor subtle like that of the living being, His body is never to be compared with such gross and subtle bodies of the living being. All such conceptions of God's body are different types of imagination only. The living being has his eternal spiritual form which is conditioned only by his material contamination.